Wishing for Salvation (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16

[Tae Kang Hyun Managing Director Confirmed to Return to Seo Won Construction] [Seo Won Group Shareholding Structure: Tae Kang Hyun Remains the Largest Shareholder] [Tae Seok Gyu’s Fourth Year as Chairman—Will There Be a Shift in Succession Plans?]

Inheriting the massive stake designated by the late Chairman Tae Seok Joong’s will, Kang Hyun—confirmed as the young heir—vanished without a trace.

Even as vicious rumors circulated like poison, Kang Hyun remained utterly silent, and his announcement of a return after four years sent the press into a frenzy.

Media outlets, seizing on the rivalry between Chairman Tae Seok Gyu and Managing Director Tae Kang Hyun, eagerly churned out stories with equal fervor.

“Well, you’ve made the right choice. I was getting overwhelmed handling everything alone. How about coming back as President?”

“There’ll be plenty of talk. It won’t be too late to decide after we see how things unfold.”

Visiting headquarters after a long absence, Kang Hyun looked around the chairman’s office, which felt painfully unfamiliar.

From the flooring and wallpaper to the furniture—it all seemed deliberately stripped of any trace of his father, almost excessively so.

“You renovated.”

“I kept thinking of him whenever I was in his old office. Even with his chronic illness, who could’ve guessed he’d pass so suddenly?”

Their relationship hadn’t been particularly close, but it wasn’t hostile either.

At Tae Seok Joong’s funeral, Tae Seok Gyu had openly wept for his older brother and now appeared committed to maintaining the performance of a devoted sibling.

It wasn’t that important, anyway. When ownership changes, it’s only natural to follow the new owner’s preferences.

“Do you know anything more about the accident four years ago?”

Back then, his only focus had been catching the hit-and-run driver; he’d never questioned the accident itself.

There was no one with a grudge against Seo Yoon who’d resort to something extreme, and since he’d planned only to keep breathing until he could join her in death, he hadn’t been in any condition to investigate thoroughly.

That’s why even the body identification had been haphazard.

“The accident? Hmm.”

“You didn’t hear anything from Father either?”

“The last time I saw him, he was worried about you—about your relationship with Seo Yoon. Around the time I left, I heard him scolding your mother-in-law, ‘Why haven’t you separated them yet?’”

Tae Seok Gyu smoothed his thick eyebrows, seriously retracing the past. Blaming the late Chairman Tae Seok Joong for the accident wasn’t a bad strategy.

“I’m done, Chairman. Tae Managing Director already knows the truth. He’s even completed fingerprint analysis, so he’s certain. I answered honestly about the parts I asked to avoid suspicion.”

He’d received a report from his trusted aide recently and heard the news of Kang Hyun’s return. It wasn’t completely unexpected, though the timing was slightly earlier than anticipated.

Even if it wouldn’t reach him directly, it was better to scatter seeds of doubt everywhere for now.

“Did Stepmother go to see Seo Yoon?”

“Well, I hear she visited quite often. Didn’t you know?”

“She promised after the engagement that she wouldn’t interfere anymore.”

“No, from what I heard that day, it wasn’t like that.”

“I see.”

Tae Seok Gyu skillfully steered Kang Hyun’s suspicions exactly where he wanted them, but his nephew—lacking any visible emotion—rose and left without showing the slightest reaction.

It was undeniably irritating how Kang Hyun never revealed what he was truly thinking.

“Manager Jo.”

Manager Jo, who’d stood guard like an ancient tree, swiftly approached and lowered his posture slightly beside the sofa.

“Yes, Chairman.”

“If there’s any sign of Koo Se Jun appearing, assign someone to deal with him immediately. Plan the scenario meticulously.”

“Understood.”

Blame everything on Koo Se Jun and wrap it up—that was the game Tae Seok Gyu had set in motion.

The doorbell hadn’t even rung when a startled housekeeper rushed out upon seeing In Young enter through the front door.

“Master Kang Hyun?”

In such a hurry that she’d picked up her flipped slipper with her hand, she bowed her head.

“Oh—it’s been so long since your last visit.”

Staff members scattered throughout the house gradually gathered in the hallway. After all, this was the true master of the Seo Won family, returning after four years.

“Where is Stepmother right now?”

“Huh? Ah, well…”

Most of the staff were new faces. Nearly none of the long-serving attendants who’d supported Tae Seok Joong remained.

Brushing past the hesitant middle-aged woman, Kang Hyun headed toward the bedroom, gripped the doorknob, and let out a dry chuckle.

This place had a new owner too.

The door—engraved with a pattern by the artist his father favored—remained intact, but from the other side came unmistakable, shameless moans.

“M-Master! Please wait!”

“Kyaaah!”

The door swung open to reveal a man and woman hastily pulling sheets over themselves.

“K-Kang Hyun…”

“You all seem to be having quite the party.”

Kang Hyun gestured toward the man, who looked at least ten years younger than himself.

“Get dressed and come to the living room. I can’t possibly speak here.”

Once the man gathered his scattered clothes and left, Kang Hyun, about to drag a chair to sit, instead furrowed his brow and took the living room sofa.

“…What are you doing here?”

“I guess you didn’t even have time to read the news. I’m returning to the construction division.”

“Oh? Congratulations. What you just saw… That doesn’t happen often. Really.”

“I don’t care about Stepmother’s hobbies. It’s been four years since Father passed—what’s the problem?”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Next time, do it outside.”

An employee who’d been watching from a distance took the pause in conversation as an opportunity to place a teacup from the tray onto the table.

“Hotels are too visible—that’s why we avoid them.”

“Whether it’s a hotel or anywhere else—the house Father left to me is this one.”

“Then do it outside.”

“I mean for you to vacate the house. You’ve already received an apartment, haven’t you? Four years is long enough to stay in someone else’s home.”

Koo Se Hee stood speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

Until the very end, Chairman Tae Seok Joong had cared only for his son. He’d bequeathed everything—the house, buildings, land, stocks, and assets—entirely to Tae Kang Hyun.

All she’d inherited were two mediocre apartments and some jewelry.

The moment she heard Kang Hyun had become a useless shell of a man, Koo Se Hee sold the apartments immediately to secure the money.

She could afford another place, but she had no desire to leave the comfortable Seo Won residence.

“You suddenly show up and tell me to leave? I’m still your mother!”

“When was the last time you saw Seo Yoon?”

“W-What are you talking about?”

“Then start packing your things.”

“That day! The day before the accident—I met her on the Chairman’s orders. Seo Yoon said she wanted to break up, and I passed the message along. That was it!”

Her smudged lipstick barely contained her frantic cry.

“I’ve warned both of you repeatedly—don’t lay a finger on Yoon.”

Kang Hyun’s voice remained calm, almost pleasant—so unnervingly serene it occasionally sent chills down the spine.

“How could I disobey your father? And why bring up something from four years ago now?”

“For me, it’s still yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Every day, I’ve stood like a fool on that very road.”

“So you’re saying the accident was my fault?”

“Was Seo Yoon’s accident something Father ordered?”

Koo Se Hee suppressed the tremble in her lips and met his cold gaze steadily as she chose her words carefully.

“I genuinely don’t know. Even if your father had ordered it, do you really think he’d tell me something that important?”

“Fine. I’ll give you one month—vacate the house.”

Kang Hyun left after this quiet remark, showing no more reaction than he had after meeting Tae Seok Gyu.

Having slept poorly for no clear reason, Ji An repeatedly yawned at the bus stop.

“Ms. Ji An—fancy seeing you here again.”

Startled by the gloomy male voice, Ji An stumbled backward.

It was Choi Do Young—the same man she’d seen days ago—grinning exactly as before.

She’d left home much earlier than her usual commute time, and just moments ago, there’d clearly been no one around.

“Oh… yeah.”

Unnerved by his suspicious approach, Ji An crossed her arms and slowly widened the distance between them with tiny steps.

“Why so cold? Come on—let’s grab coffee somewhere.”

“No, I have to get to work.”

“That’s strange—why can’t you remember? We drank together often, even slept together. I’ve got videos too.”

“W-What did you say?”

Her entire body tensed instantly.

As Choi Do Young stepped closer, Ji An, blocked by the bus stop ad panel, scanned for an escape route.

“So let’s just go somewhere quiet and talk, okay? You wouldn’t want to get hurt, would you?”

He reached out threateningly and grabbed Ji An’s wrist.

She hadn’t noticed before when he’d worn a suit and bowed politely, but now, in weather-inappropriate sleeveless shirt and shorts, his arms and legs were densely tattooed.

“W-Why are you doing this!”

“Let’s just grab coffee…”

At that moment, a blaring horn from across the street drowned out his voice.

Kang Hyun, having just stepped out of his car, frantically leaned into the driver’s window and hammered the horn. The sudden noise drew everyone’s attention.

Honk! This time, multiple horns blared simultaneously, and cars cruising normally slammed on their brakes.

The white sedan that spotted Kang Hyun too late screeched to a halt just before hitting him, metal shrieking in protest.

“…Managing Director?”

The man recklessly crossing the road was unmistakably Kang Hyun.

“Damn it.”

Seeing the commotion, Choi Do Young quickly slipped away from his tussle with Ji An.

“Hey, you lunatic!”

“Are you trying to die!”

Pushing through drivers’ furious curses—after nearly causing a horrific morning accident—Kang Hyun grabbed Ji An’s shoulders as she sat slumped in the middle of the bus stop.

“Are you all right?”

“…Are you insane? Who crosses the road like that? You almost died just now!”

Her legs had gone weak—not because of Choi Do Young dragging her away while threatening videos, but because of what she’d just witnessed.

“Do you know that man?”

“N-No. He’s a stranger, but he keeps pretending we know each other… But that’s not the point! You, of all people—who knows better than you how dangerous traffic accidents are—why did you run straight into the road like that!”

Afraid of losing her. Afraid she’d vanish from his side again.

He’d spent the weekend with only her photo for company, but the anxiety had become unbearable—he had to see her.

He’d intended to watch over her discreetly until they met at the office.

But the moment he saw another man approach Seo Yoon, his body moved before his mind could catch up.

“Anyway, thank you.”

Ji An, heart pounding wildly, took a deep breath and bowed her head.

She’d genuinely thought Kang Hyun was going to die.

Her fear—greater than any curiosity about why he’d sprinted across the road toward her—had even brought tears welling up.

In that split second before the car struck him,

she hadn’t even seen Choi Do Young trying to pull her away.

Her entire vision had been filled only by Kang Hyun, teetering precariously between life and death.

Now that she thought about it, she’d had a similar dream before.

“How could I possibly let you go.”

“Ugh…”

Ji An gasped, clutching her head with both hands as a pain—sharp as if her skull were cracking—suddenly surged. She hunched over, gasping for breath.

“What’s wrong? Did you hit your head somewhere?”

Boom, boom—her ears rang as if someone were pounding massive cymbals right beside them.